Friday, May 1, 2015

Free daily tips, information, advice and ideas to help you better manage your small business.Social media has captured the attention of consumers. We are living in the age of Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Apple, LinkedIn, Instagram--the list goes on. It is possible for small businesses to reach out far and wide. And it's not just a wider area. Today's social media brings depth to the marketplace.Example: You are a chiropractor. You post a picture on Facebook showing a close-up of your hands working on someone's back. Add two short sentences and your message gets passed around to many people.Example: You are a landscaper. You post a picture on LInkedIn showing springtime flowers popping up in someone's yard. Add a "come on" statement, and calls arrive from new prospective clients.Example: You are an attorney. You post a quick Twitter announcement of an upcoming free seminar you're giving on elder care and social security. People re-tweet your message and reservations come in from others who want to attend.Example: You run a restaurant. You get an app so your customers can check out your menu specials for the day, make a reservation, place an order while they are on their way to your restaurant. When they arrive, you serve their order immediately. Example: You are a photographer. You publish samples of your work as a short e-book on Amazon Kindle. You put up tease sample photos on Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest--pointing viewers to your e-book. The word spreads.Example: You are a hair stylist. You post pictures on social media showing the latest stylings done at your shop. You mention that appointments can be made through your website and the bill can be paid with the client's Apple phone. Placing ads in newspapers and specialty publications can still be very effective. Social media represents additional opportunities. Get that camera clicking and take pictures that can be posted. Keep all write-ups short--a phrase, a short sentence does the trick. If you don't know how to use social media, go to the sites for Facebook, LinkedIn, and others. These people will gladly lead you through the process--it can take less than 5 minutes for you to be up and running. Then get in the habit of posting frequently. Once you get the hang of it, your free advertising can be accomplished literally on the run. Social media is a godsend for small business. You can reach out to the world with the click of a button. Your elderly customers might still appreciate a post card. But tomorrow's world belongs to social media.